Impact of Hurricane Dean (2007) on Game Species of the Selva Maya, Mexico

• Published in: Biotropica Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 402 - 411
• Main Authors: Ramírez-Barajas, Pablo J., Islebe, Gerald A., Calmé, Sophie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2012; Wiley Subscription Services; Wiley
• Subjects: Abundance; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Crax rubra; Dasyprocta punctata; Dasypus novemcinctus; Deer; Diet; disturbance; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Forest habitats; Frugivores; functional groups; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Habitat; Habitat conservation; habitat disturbance; Herbivores; Hurricane effects on animals; Hurricanes; Meleagris; Nasua narica; Neotropical vertebrates; Odocoileus virginianus; omnivores; relative track abundance; resilience; Species; Storm damage; Stress; subsistence hunting; Tropical Biology; Tropical forests; Turkeys; Yucatan Peninsula; Central America; Mexico; America; Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula; Turkey; Hunting; Tropical zone; habitat disturbance; Yucatan Peninsula; Perturbation; subsistence hunting; Resilience; Vertebrata; Neotropical vertebrates; relative track abundance; Habitat; functional groups; Hurricane; Neotropical Region; Ecological abundance; Functional group
• ISSN: 0006-3606; 1744-7429
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2011.00819.x

We assessed the effects of a high-intensity hurricane on the abundance of nine game species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. We sampled 370 km of linear transects in the 3 yr before the hurricane (i.e., 2003-2005), and 315 km in 3 yr after the hurricane (2008-2010). Relative track abundances of all species declined by two-thirds of their prehurricane values. Abundances of Central American agouti Dasyprocta panciata, white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus, paca Cuniculus paca, and Great Curassow Crax rubra declined significantly after the hurricane swept the area. Relative track abundances showed a negative, but nonsignificant trend for Ocellated Turkey Meleagris ocellata, white-nosed coati Nasua narica, brocket deer Manama sp., and collared peccary Pecari tajacu. Only nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemdnctus showed a significant increase in abundance. Strictly frugivore and habitat specialist species were more affected than omnivores and habitat generalist species. These latter characteristics, or their combination, seemed advantageous to withstand the stress of habitat disturbance. The trend of posthurricane recovery was incipient for affected species, and it was significant for five species after the impact. Overall, most frugivores and habitat specialists did not reach their prehurricane relative track abundances, and Great Curassow showed no recovery trend. The future expectation of increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes might have severe effects on such species.